UPCOMING CONVENTION AND SPORTS EVENTS March 2015
ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL | March 5-8 More than 175,000 sports fans are expected to witness 18,000 athletes compete in a wide range of sports including weightlifting, bodybuilding, archery and table tennis. The Arnold Fitness EXPO at the Convention Center has over 900 fitness-related booths and ongoing stage entertainment. New this year is a Kids Fitness Expo March 7-8 at the Ohio Expo Center.
Attendance: 175,000 plus Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Event: Competitions and Expos are open to the public with ticket Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Ohio Expo Center, LC Pavilion, area hotels Website: www.arnoldsportsfestival.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/arnoldsports Twitter: @ArnoldSports Group Contact: Liz Green, [email protected] Experience Columbus Contact: Sharon Levine, [email protected]
OHSAA Division II Boys & Girls State Bowling Championships | March 6-7 Boys’ and Girls’ Division II bowling teams will face off in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Tournament in Columbus. Girls will compete on Saturday while the boys will compete on Sunday. Tickets cost $8 per person.
Attendance: 1,200 Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl Website: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bw/2015/2015BWcoverage.htm Facebook: www.facebook.com/ohsaa Twitter: www.twitter.com/OHSAASports Group Contact: Roxanne Price, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
OHSAA Girls State Gymnastics Championships | March 6-7 The Ohio High School Athletic Association Gymnastics season will come to a close in Columbus! The championship will be held at Hilliard Bradley High School, with the Team Competition on Friday and the Individual Competition on Saturday. Tickets cost $8 per person.
Attendance: 1,700 Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Hilliard Bradley High School Website: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/gy/girls/2015/2015GYcoverage.htm Facebook: www.facebook.com/ohsaa Twitter: www.twitter.com/OHSAASports Group Contact: Dr. Debbie Moore, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
Columbus High School Club Hockey League State Tournament | March 6-8 High school hockey players from around the state will compete in the Hockey League State Tournament held in Columbus. The Chiller Ice Rinks will host the event, which will span the course of three days.
Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Chiller Ice Rinks Website: http://www.gchschl.com/index.php Group Contact: Douglas Drescher, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
Big Ten Wrestling Championships | March 7-8 The Ohio State University will be hosting the 2015 Big Ten Wrestling Championships at St. John Arena in Columbus on March 7 and 8. Doors open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. Tickets cost $8 per person.
Attendance: 25,000 Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: St. John Arena Website: http://www.bigten.org/championships/2015-schedule.html Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigTenConference Twitter: https://twitter.com/b1gwrestling Group Contact: Ericka Hoon, [email protected]
Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
NCAA Zone Diving Qualifier | March 12-14 Columbus will be the host of one of five 2015 NCAA Zone Diving Qualifiers. The event will be held over the course of three days at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, located on The Ohio State University’s campus.
Attendance: 1,000 Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Website: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/swimming-men/d1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncaastudents Twitter: https://twitter.com/ncaa Group Contact: Lauren Graham, [email protected]; Ericka Hoon, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
OHSAA Boys State Wrestling Championships | March 12-14 The Ohio High School Athletic Association wrestling season comes to a close when wrestlers come to Columbus to compete for a state title! Three divisions will be represented at the Schottenstein Center at The Ohio State University. Tickets cost $8 per person.
Attendance: 66,000 over the three-day period (average over 22,000 per day) Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Jerome Schottenstein Center Website: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/wr/boys/2015_IND/2015IndvWRcoverage.htm Facebook: www.facebook.com/ohsaa Twitter: www.twitter.com/OHSAASports Group Contact: Beau Rugg, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
OHSAA Boys State Ice Hockey Championships | March 12-14 The Ohio High School Athletic Association will end its ice hockey season with the 2015 State Championships held at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The two semifinals will be held on Thursday, March 12 while the finals will be held on Saturday, March 14. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for students.
Attendance: 6,500 Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals.
Location: Nationwide Arena Website: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/ih/boys/2015/2015IHcoverage.htm Facebook: www.facebook.com/ohsaa Twitter: www.twitter.com/OHSAASports Group Contact: Steve Neil, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
OHIO ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS/OHIO DECA | March 12-14 These two associations are comprised of high school students interested in furthering their professional opportunities. Education, presentations and competitions are planned during the conferences.
Attendance: 1,500 Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Arena District Hyatt Regency Website: www.ohiobpa.org or www.ohiodeca.org Group Contact: Sheri Ketaneh, [email protected] Experience Columbus Contact: Sharon Levine, [email protected]
OHSAA Division I Boys and Girls State Bowling Championships | March 13-14 The Division I Boys’ and Girls’ State Bowling Championships in Columbus will close out the 2013-14 Ohio High School Athletic Association bowling season. The girls will play on Friday, March 13 while the boys will play on Saturday, March 14. Tickets cost $8 per person.
Attendance: 1,200 Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl Website: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bw/2015/2015BWcoverage.htm Facebook: www.facebook.com/ohsaa Twitter: www.twitter.com/OHSAASports Group Contact: Roxanne Price, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
OHSAA Girls State Basketball Championships | March 19-21 The state’s top 16 girls’ basketball teams come to Columbus for the 40th Annual Girls Basketball Championships to close out the 2013-14 Ohio High School Athletic Association girls’ basketball season. Semifinals will be played on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20, while Finals will be held on Saturday, March 21. Tickets cost $10 per person.
Attendance: 40,000 over the entire weekend Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Jerome Schottenstein Center Website: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bk/girls/2015/2015GBKcoverage.htm Facebook: www.facebook.com/ohsaa Twitter: www.twitter.com/OHSAASports Group Contact: Dr. Debbie Moore, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
NCAA Men’s and Women’s Fencing National Championships | March 19-21 The NCAA Fencing season comes to a close with the Men’s and Women’s National Championships held in Columbus. The Ohio State University’s French Field House will host the event, which will span three days.
Attendance: 2,000 Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: French Field House Website: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/fencing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncaastudents Twitter: https://twitter.com/NCAA Group Contact: Ericka Hoon, [email protected]; John Bugner, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball 2nd & 3rd Rounds | March 19-21 For the fourth time in eleven years, Columbus will host the NCAA Division I Men’s March Madness tournament. Eight teams will converge on Nationwide Arena for the 2nd round which will be held on March 19 and 20, and the 3rd round which will be held March 21. Single-session and all-session tickets are available at varying prices, please visit www.ncaa.com/tickets/basketball-men/d1 for more information.
Attendance: 150,000 over the course of the event Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Nationwide Arena Website: http://www.ncaa.com/final-four Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCAAMarchMadness Twitter: https://twitter.com/marchmadness Group Contact: Byron Hatch, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
Buckeye Classic Tournament Series | March 20-22 Hockey Time Productions presents the final weekend of the Buckeye Classic Tournament Series. The tournament will draw teams from around the Midwest and southern Ontario and will be held at numerous rinks around the Columbus area.
Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum Website: www.itshockeytime.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/807813312586391/?fref=ts Group Contact: Matt Rice, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
USA Synchronized Swimming Collegiate National Championships | March 25-28 The Ohio State University will host the USA Synchronized Swimming Collegiate National Championships at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The three-day event will crown the top synchronized swimming team in the country.
Attendance: 2,000 Meals: Attendees are on their own for meals. Location: McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Website: http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Synchronized-Swimming/Events Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USASynchro Twitter: https://twitter.com/usasynchro Group Contact: Lauren Graham, [email protected] Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
OHSAA Boys State Basketball Championships | March 26-28 The state’s best 16 boys’ basketball teams come to Columbus for the 93rd Annual Boys’ Basketball Championships to close out the 2013-14 Ohio High School Athletic Association season. The semifinals will be played on Thursday and Friday while the finals will be played on Saturday. Tickets cost $15 per person for entry and Club levels, and $12 per person for Terrace Level.
Attendance: 130,000 over the entire weekend (average of over 40,000 per day) Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Location: Jerome Schottenstein Center Website: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bk/boys/2015/2015BBKcoverage.htm Facebook: www.facebook.com/ohsaa Twitter: www.twitter.com/OHSAASports Group Contact: Steve Neil, [email protected]
Sports Commission Contact: Ariana Tyler, [email protected]
AMERICAN CHEER POWER | March 27-29 This National Championship offers competitions for All Star Cheer, All Star Prep, and Dance Teams.
Attendance: 11,000 (athletes and families) Meals: Attendees are on their own for all meals. Event: Competitions are all day Saturday and Sunday. Open to the public. Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, downtown hotels Website: www.cheerpower.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmericanCheerPower Twitter: @CheerPower_ACP Group Contact: Todd, [email protected] Experience Columbus Contact: Diane Share, [email protected]
OHIO SAFETY CONGRESS & EXPO | March 31-April 2 Ohio’s largest and most established occupational safety and health event draws business representatives from around the state. Attendees experience workshops and sessions. Exhibitors display workplace safety services, industrial supplies, safety equipment and gear.
Attendance: 6,500 Meals: Attendees are on their own for meals. Event: Over 200 exhibitors. Open to the public. Wednesday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, downtown hotels Website: http://www.ohiobwc.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ohiobwcfraud Twitter: @OhioBWC Group Contact: Julie Darby Martin, [email protected] Experience Columbus Contact: Diane Share, [email protected]
The Experience Columbus Visitor Center in the Arena District is open seven days a week to help your customers find their way around the city: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Visitor Center is located on the corner of Nationwide Blvd. and Neil Ave. at 277 W. Nationwide Blvd., 43215. Phone: 614-221-6623.
The Convention and Sports Alert is published monthly to assist area restaurants, hotels and other facilities in anticipating their staffing and supply needs. To add, change or delete an email recipient, please contact Bill Behrens at [email protected].